Rio de Janeiro: A phone call from Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho to the Slecao coaching staff prompted midfielder Oscar's omission from Brazil's Copa America squad, the team has said.
The 23-year-old was left out of coach Dunga's 23-man squad, announced on Tuesday, for the June 11-July 4 tournament with an unspecified muscle injury sustained during Chelsea training, reports Xinhua.
"It was Jose Mourinho who took the initiative to call us," Brazil's technical director Gilmar Rinaldi said on Tuesday, adding that Oscar would be preserved for the start of the the 2018 World Cup qualifiers later this year.
"We exchanged information and the doctors spoke. We came to the consensus that it was best not to include him. It is a significant muscle injury. It's going to be better for Chelsea and for us if he rests, with a view to the World Cup qualifiers."
Dunga said the injury had nothing to do with the concussion Oscar suffered in Chelsea's 0-0 draw with Arsenal in an English Premier League match on April 26.
"We knew he had that injury. We spoke (with Mourinho). His recuperation will take time because he is not in the best physical condition. We think it will be better for him to concentrate on preparing for the qualifiers."
Oscar took to social networking site Twitter to express his disappointment.
"I'm really sad not be able to play for my country in the Copa America because of injury. Thanks to everybody for their support," the midfielder said on Tuesday.
The Selecao will begin their Copa America campaign against Peru on June 14 and will also meet Colombia and Venezuela in the group phase.
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